Citrus Heights police Tweeted a photo of Officer Anthony Boehle handing out a steering wheel lock, Wednesday. // Courtesy, CHPD
Following a 39 percent spike in motor vehicle theft in the city last year, the Citrus Heights Police Department announced a new campaign this week to help arm owners of the most commonly stolen vehicles with a tool to help deter the crime — a free steering wheel lock.
According to a March 28 news release, free locks are only available for owners of the top three vehicles stolen in the city. Owners must also be Citrus Heights residents and have proof of current vehicle registration and ownership.
Police said the top three vehicles stolen over the past five years in Citrus Heights are:
Honda Accord (1990‐1997)
Honda Civic (1990‐2000)
Ford F‐Series trucks (1998‐2007)
Qualifying vehicle owners can pick up a free steering wheel lock, while supplies last, at the Citrus Heights Police Department on Fountain Square Drive. Owners must bring their vehicle along with proof of current registration and proof of ownership.
The police department is located at 6315 Fountain Square Drive, in Citrus Heights. Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The department cautioned that while steering wheel locks are “not a guarantee your vehicle will not be stolen,” an anti-theft device can be a helpful deterrent to crimes of opportunity.
“If a would‐be vehicle thief encounters a vehicle with a steering lock installed, there is a high likelihood the thief would move on to another vehicle because of the extra effort needed to remove the steering wheel lock,” Lt. David Gutierrez said in Tuesday’s statement to media.
The department said the new anti-theft campaign is an addition to an array of other efforts already in use by CHPD, including its high profile “bait vehicle” program, targeted enforcement, a “Battle Auto Theft” program, and license plate reader technology.
In a March 9 report to the city council, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence reported that motor vehicle theft in the city rose 39 percent during 2016, compared to 2015. He said such thefts are “up all over the state” and said vehicle thefts notably rose after prison realignment in 2011, which is often blamed for the early release of prisoners.
According to a five-year comparison presented by Chief Lawrence, motor vehicle theft in Citrus Heights appears to average about 370 thefts per year, with 376 listed in both 2014 and 2016. A noticeable drop down to 271 thefts occurred in 2015, which police took credit for.
Police said the latest steering wheel lock campaign was made possible through the utilization of Sacramento Area Vehicle Theft Reduction Unit funds.
CHPD also offered other vehicle theft prevention tips in its March 28 news release, including never leaving your car unattended while running, keeping your vehicle in a garage if possible, and parking in well‐lit areas.
A slide presented to city council members during their March 9, 2017, council meeting shows a comparison between 2015 and 2016 crime in Citrus Heights. // Source: CHPD
Motor vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and arson all saw at least double-digit increases in Citrus Heights during 2016, while robbery and homicides saw double-digit drops, according to the latest annual crime report delivered to council members by Police Chief Ron Lawrence earlier this month.
The annual report used crime data from “Part 1” of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which tracks eight categories of crimes that are broken down into property crimes and persons crimes. Property crimes include burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, and persons crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Part 2 crimes are considered less serious and are only required to be reported if there is an arrest, according to the FBI’s website.
Largest local increases in crime were in the motor vehicle theft category, which rose 39 percent in the year-over-year comparison presented. Arson cases also more than doubled, rising from six in 2015 up to a total of 16 last year, while robbery dropped by 22 percent and homicides dropped from five in 2015 down to three last year, according to the report.
The homicide category of the UCR statistics does not typically include officer-involved shootings, since the FBI tabulates such shootings as “justifiable homicides,” after a law enforcement investigation. As reported in an extensive story in The Sacramento Bee on March 12, Citrus Heights had one homicide involving a police shooting in 2015, and two in 2016.
Lawrence, who replaced former Police Chief Christopher Boyd in October last year, highlighted “deficiencies” in year-over-year comparisons, as did several council members who focused on a 10-year crime trend showing categories of major crime are at one of their lowest points in the history of the police department, which was formed in 2006. From 2006 to 2016, Lawrence reported an overall drop in Part 1 crimes by 22 percent.
“I think the citizens are 100 percent behind you,” Mayor Jeff Slowey told the police chief after hearing the March 9 report. “So even when there’s a little blip on the radar that doesn’t always look good, everyone’s always out there doing their best.”
Councilman Bret Daniels called the crime statistics “a little disappointing that there’s even a slight little spike,” but he said “it could mean that we just did better last year.”
Daniels also questioned the chief about the significant rise in vehicle theft and asked what could be done in response. Lawrence said such thefts are “up all over the state” and said vehicle thefts notably rose after prison realignment in 2011, which is often blamed for releasing prisoners on the streets.
According to Lt. Jason Russo, the department plans to launch a theft prevention program targeted at Honda owners to encourage use of a steering wheel lock. He said 90’s model Honda’s are the most commonly stolen vehicles, with thieves often stealing the cars using shaved keys.
*This story originally appeared in The Sentinel’s March 19 e-Edition. Read part two of this article in our upcoming March 26 edition for additional statistics and a look at CHPD’s crime reduction strategies. Click here to sign up for our Weekend e-Edition
A slide showing a 10-year overview of total Part 1 crimes in Citrus Heights, from 2006 to 2016. // Source: CHPD
An official swearing-in ceremony and reception was held for Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence on Thursday. His wife, Jennifer, pinned the chief’s new badge on him during the ceremony.
During a standing-room-only city council meeting Thursday night, Ron Lawrence was officially sworn in as the new chief of police in Citrus Heights.
Lawrence was administered the oath by former police chief and current city manager Chris Boyd, pledging to uphold the Constitution and faithfully perform his duties as the City’s new police chief. The ceremony included a presentation involving the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Honor Guard, and the chief’s new badge was pinned on him during the event by his wife, Jennifer.
“[CHPD] is bar none, one of the most fantastic police department’s I have ever, ever experienced,” Lawrence told council members, reflecting on his first few days on the job since taking over as police chief on Oct. 31. The 46-year-old said he looked forward to the next 10 years of the department and said the challenge for him will be writing “the next chapter” of CHPD, following the first decade of leadership by Chief Boyd who Lawrence said has been a personal mentor.
Notable attendees at the Nov. 10 ceremony included state Senator Jim Nielsen and representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Highway Patrol, and the California Police Chiefs Association (Cal Chiefs). Police chiefs from the cities of Roseville, Walnut Creek, Truckee, Elk Grove, Folsom, Auburn, and elsewhere, also attended the ceremony.
The event also included a well-attended 6 p.m. reception for the chief, held in the city hall foyer just prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
As previously reported on The Sentinel, Lawrence began his career in law enforcement in 1989 and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He also teaches criminal justice and criminology as an adjunct professor at William Jessup University in Rocklin and holds a masters degree in leadership and a bachelor of arts in criminal justice.
Lawrence additionally serves as the 3rd vice president of Cal Chiefs, putting him on track to serve as the Association’s president in 2019.
He currently lives in Rocklin along with his wife and three children, who are in middle school and high school.
Ron Lawrence, currently Rocklin’s police chief, will take over as chief of police in Citrus Heights on Oct. 31, 2016 // Photo courtesy, Ron Lawrence
Following the announcement of Ron Lawrence being named as the new Citrus Heights police chief, The Sentinel gave the incoming chief an opportunity to answer several background and policy questions as a personal introduction to the community — including questions on current issues of homelessness and body cameras.
Chief Lawrence will officially take position as top cop in Citrus Heights, effective Oct. 31 of this year. The 46-year-old currently serves as police chief in Rocklin, a position he has held for the past five years.
According to a bio provided to The Sentinel, Lawrence began his career in law enforcement in 1989, graduated from the FBI National Academy, and holds a Master’s in Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He is also the 3rd vice president of the California Police Chiefs Association, which represents over 300 police chiefs across the state.
The following questions were answered via email this week by Chief Lawrence and are provided in unedited form:
What initially led you to a career in law enforcement and how did you get to where you are today?
“I grew up on a rice farm in Sutter County, and didn’t grow up wanting to be in policing. As a teen, I interrupted two separate residential burglaries at our ranch house, which probably had some influence on my future. When I graduated high school, I began actively job searching when I found the Sacramento County Sheriff’s academy was accepting non-paid recruits. I applied and paid for my own way through the academy. I suppose you could say I stumbled into the profession by chance.”
You also work as an adjunct university professor (William Jessup University). What kind of classes do you teach and how do you balance your time obligations?
“I teach Introduction to Criminal Justice (a lower division course), as well as Criminology (an upper division course). I truly enjoy interacting with the students and presenting a real-world application of the criminal justice system. I teach part-time as William Jessup needs; about every other semester. Classes are held in the evenings so it doesn’t interfere with my police chief role.”
What are two accomplishments at Rocklin PD that you’re most proud of?
“There are a lot of things I am proud of accomplishing at Rocklin. We lowered the crime rate consistently during my tenure and finished each Fiscal Year with a balanced budget, often under budget, yet always accomplished the strategic goals we had set with City Council. During my tenure we led the department out of the Great Recession, navigated two historic shifts in the California criminal justice system; Prison Realignment (AB109) and the Safe Neighborhoods initiative (Prop 47), and reduced, then rebuilt staffing levels as a result of the Recession. What I am most proud of though is the people. Rocklin PD has truly caring and skilled policing professionals who police the community with empathy and compassion. I will miss the great people dearly.”
What kind of changes can Citrus Heights residents/businesses expect to see with you as police chief?
“Fortunately, Citrus Heights PD has an stellar reputation throughout the region and state. Chris Boyd has truly built a winning team who are committed to protecting the City. I have had an opportunity to tour the department and meet many of the professionals protecting Citrus Heights, including a special briefing with the Command Staff. The residents and businesses can expect me to build on an already fantastic police department, driving us to excel to greater levels.”
You’ve described police officers more as “guardians of the community” rather than “law enforcement.” Share a bit more about your policing philosophy and the role you see police playing in a community.
“Some communities view the police as a branch of government that simply writes traffic tickets and arrests criminals. Their experience is limited to what they watch on TV, social media, or may have experienced themselves. But the policing profession is far more involved and complex. Enforcing laws is not who we are as a profession; enforcing the laws is a function of our job. By definition in the California Penal Code, we are ‘Peace Officers,’ who have sworn an oath to keep the peace, which may or may not include writing tickets or making an arrest. My philosophy is that we are guardians of our community, partnering with our residents and business owners to keep us safe. To keep the peace.”
What has your experience been like with body-worn cameras at Rocklin PD, and would you seek to bring the technology to Citrus Heights?
“We have outfitted our patrol officers with body-worn cameras and they have been effective for Rocklin, but I don’t see them as a panacea for our profession. There are complications and expenses. For example, police officers often deal with complex calls and find people who are experiencing embarrassing or vulnerable situations. We work hard to provide dignity and respect for everyone, and cameras recording everything is not always appropriate. Storage of video is a huge expense and something that has to be considered; whether a stand-alone server is used or we pay for the virtual cloud. My position is that this is a valuable technology that will become a more common policing tool, but I prefer to wait until some of the issues are resolved to ensure Citrus Heights PD has the very best and most effective equipment.”
How do you plan to address homeless-related issues in Citrus Heights?
“Citrus Heights has recently drafted a very good program to help address homelessness, to include employing a homeless navigator. Homelessness has increased across California, and it’s important to recognize that this has to be addressed regional scale. I don’t believe most people who are homeless woke up one day and decided to choose that lifestyle. Rather many suffer from addiction issues such as alcohol or drugs, and some suffer from mental illness. Our role is to try and interrupt or break those cycles of addiction, or identify those suffering from mental illness, and try to redirect them to good programs to help them towards a more stable lifestyle. We also need to ensure the community isn’t victimized by crimes that are often associated with homelessness by taking enforcement action when appropriate.”
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Rocklin Police Chief Ron Lawrence will take over as Citrus Heights new police chief on Oct. 31, 2016. // Courtesy, Rocklin PD
In an announcement on Friday, outgoing Police Chief Christopher Boyd named the 46-year-old current police chief of Rocklin as his official replacement.
“It is with great pleasure that I introduce Ron Lawrence as the next Chief of Police for Citrus Heights,” said Boyd in a prepared statement. “I have tremendous respect for Chief Lawrence as a law enforcement executive and know his high standards in leadership, community service, and public safety will well lead the Citrus Heights Police Department into its next chapter.”
Boyd, who officially assumes his new position as Citrus Heights city manager on Oct. 1 to replace retiring manager Henry Tingle, said the incoming chief has extensive experience in law enforcement and has served as Rocklin’s police chief for the past five years. Boyd said Lawrence’s “empathy and compassion are values of utmost importance in today’s policing.”
Chief Lawrence will officially begin his new post with the Citrus Heights Police Department on Oct. 31, with commanders Gina Anderson and Daman Christensen filling in as interim chiefs during October.
In accepting the new position, Lawrence said Chief Boyd had been a mentor to him and said he was “honored and humbled” at the opportunity to take the helm of the police department in Citrus Heights.
“I didn’t even blink,” said Lawrence, when he was asked to take over CHPD. “It was an exciting opportunity for me and a perfect fit. I look forward to taking on the role.”
Lawrence praised CHPD as a “fantastic police department with some excellent leadership,” and said the community can expect “a lot more of the same, and building on the excellence that’s already there.”
Asked about his approach to policing, Lawrence said he sees police officers as “guardians of the community” and “peace keepers” rather than law enforcement, although he clarified enforcing laws is part of what police do. “We’re guardians of our hometown and we work with our community.”
According to a bio provided to The Sentinel, Lawrence began his career in law enforcement in 1989 and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He also holds a Master’s in Leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and is an adjunct professor at William Jessup University in Rocklin.
Lawrence is also the 3rd Vice President of the California Police Chiefs Association (Cal Chiefs), putting him on track to serve as the Association’s president in 2019.
He currently lives in Rocklin along with his wife and three children, who are in middle school and high school.
Outgoing Chief Boyd, 49, has served at the helm of CHPD since its formation in 2006. He has been praised for reducing crime in the city over the past decade, with police reporting that property crime has dropped by 26 percent, persons crime by 33 percent, and collisions by 44 percent — compared to 10 years ago.
